What makes you feel like you look good?

[BlueBayBic]

I am in a rut and am fed up. For years I have given up on trying to look nice. Now I just go about my life feeling and looking like an ugly slob. It’s been so long, I’m not even sure how to make an effort. What do you do that makes you feel like you look nice, put together, confident?

Bronzing drops added to moisturiser so I don't look dug up, clothes I feel confident in & straightened hair. Add to that biab gel on nails

Total darkness

Don't rush to get a boob job. Try a good bra first. I'm an A cup and I love the Max Cleavage gel ones. They are really comfy, move with you and give you a nice shape if you're aiming to increase the balance with your top and bottom half.

You mention your glasses being wonky/slipping. Please get those fixed. It must make you feel so irritated and frustrated.

Work out a make up routine that your can do quickly. Try tinted moisturiser if you don't need/like full coverage, brow gel (i like the elf one which is dirt cheap) and mascara (I swear by Stila Huge Lashes which doesn't smudge and looks gorgeous). Tinted lip balm, carry in your bag so you can reapply. Gel nails or a pale polish (won't show chips easily) you can touch up in the evening watching TV.

Hair, watch some you tube and find out what would work. My workmate says her hair is naturally frizzy but she spends time doing a proper blow dry and it lasts several days.

Clothes. I like black and neutrals as it makes it easy to throw an outfit together. Obviously if you prefer colour then that's crap advice. A good belt and a nice wool coat can instantly elevate an outfit. If you have the funds buy a few second hand things from vinted to see what suits your figure and sense of style then invest in more of your favourites.

I was in such a rut a couple of years ago. Overweight and constantly living in fleeces and leggings which made me feel frumpy and therefore feel even worse!

It's the basics that are really important for me now. I try to eat more whole foods and drink more water so I'm actually looking after myself from the inside.

I shower every day and have a simple skincare routine that I stick to religiously but now has paid off because my skin is decent so I don't feel like I need much makeup. Just a vitamin C serum and a SPF every morning and then cleanse, tone, moisture at night. I don't use expensive products. The Inkey List and The Ordinary both work well for me.

I found jewellery I could sleep and shower in. Just small huggie hoops and a simple chain necklace but they always make me feel polished as does a spritz of perfume every morning.

Makeup wise I keep it really simple and usually just use Elf tubing mascara (that will not smudge), a tinted lip balm and a bit of blusher.

Clothes I got rid of anything that made me feel crap and now have a much smaller wardrobe of items that I feel decent in. It is predominantly Uniqlo to be honest but that suits what I like (comfortable, simple basics that can be mixed and matched.)

I completely get this.

if you’re spending hours to make your hair look good then you are probably fighting nature and need a style that suits what you have naturally.

Curly girl revolutionised my life. I used to spend 30 minutes a day straightening my hair, and any moisture sent me running for the straighteners.

I wash with Aldi conditioner in a blue bottle when I first get in the shower.
I comb through garnier hair food and leave it whilst I do my shower then rinse
squeeze the water out and apply boots curl cream, scrunching into the ends
wrap head in a t shirt to dry off a bit
apply shockwaves mousse and scrunch
when nearly dry apply a bit of cheapo gel

it sounds more than it is and I only do this once a week.
in between I use a refresh spray made up of 1:4 conditioner and water
sometimes it needs a bit of mousse as well.

I get my nails done too as I feel like less of a hag

I’ve recently tried Laura Geller make up, just the foundation one. It seems to even things out without looking like I’m wearing make up

Keeping slim, makeup, hair dye, weights, tooth whitening, all done on a budget.

Lots of things but the main thing for my self esteem and confidence that makes the biggest difference is being slim. I’ve been everything from a size 10 to a size 20 and I feel infinitely better about myself when I’m slim.

A good all-in-one face, body, and hair oil. Nuxe make a Neroli-scented dry oil that smells divine and dries down to a nice, non-greasy finish. I use it all over my face and neck, ends of my hair, and limbs. It does a great job of faking a “natural glow” even on days when I feel (and look!) like death warmed up.

Cocktails.

Really improve my dancing too.

😆😆😆

Make up and straightening my hair! Also feel great when I’m a stone lighter

Clean hair and primer

I put a knot of myself in chat gpt and asked it to do a colour analysis. It’s great and I now use it when buying new clothes or selecting things from my wardrobe.

For me I feel 100% better with eye liner and mascara on..some days I am at home and have no meetings and still put it on. Other days not.

I completely agree with the hair washing. Life is too short to try to stretch your hair washes, at least for me.

Try Erborian BB or CC cream, it’s not the cheapest but you only use the smallest amount so it last for ages.

Nice coat and bag (Vinted if you like) smartens everything up.

Agree with pp, don’t consider a boob job especially if money is tight, dressing bigger boobs is not easy!

TK Maxx have a brilliant selection of decent skincare at reduced prices, you just have to hunt a bit. Also recommend Boots No7, there’s nearly always £10 off or 3 for 2. Check out their £10 Tuesday offers as well.

I feel look good when my hair is washed (it’s long and curly so I never look ‘done’), I have make up on and I’m wearing something fashionable.

I drove past a woman this evening who’s probably my age (53). She was wearing a patterned prairie type dress and white trainers. I would’ve been wearing that 6 or 7 years ago, but would never wear it now as it looks so dated. It made me think keeping up with trends is really important (to me).

Being a healthy weight (currently need to loose half a stone or ideally a stone, feel a bit rubbish)

The mirrors at the fair that stretch me and make me look taller and slimmer. Also my shadow. My shadow looked fab the other day.

Little things can make big difference. If I am feeling a bit low and ugly i get my eyebrows done. I also like file to paint my nails, you can tell alot by someones hands.

For the hair - never blow dry. Leave-in conditioner, comb, then mousse, curl cream - or my fave V05 Frizz free air dry creme. Let dry naturally, and never brush or comb when dry. If it frizzes, spritz a bit of water on it and scrunch some more product in.
I feel put together when I'm slim - it's amazing the difference it makes, so I'm determined not to put weight on again. Well fitting clothes (don't have to be designer), nails done, make up (recommend the Elf illuminating foundation), bit of powder, eyebrows, neutral eyeshadow and eyeliner, mascara, bit of blush, lip pencil. I spend about 5-10 mins a day putting on makeup and it makes all the difference. Perfume.

Take your glasses back to the opticians, they’re meant to fit the frames to your face, so they need to do that which will prevent any wonkyness or slippage.

On clothes, no one needs to follow celebs or trends. What does make a difference is well fitting clothes. I get most of my clothes fitted for me, it isn’t expensive, any alterations service will do it and it makes your clothes sit so much better. This is also the only reason why celebs etc can look so good in a pair of jeans its because they have been tailored specifically for them.

Please don't get a boob job OP. I had mine for 16 years and they made me so ill my body was shutting down. Breast implant illness is a real thing even though the medical world gas light women it's not.

If you're ever considering it joining a BII group on Facebook and see what they do to women.
Women are getting them explanted in droves and I'm someone who thought I didn't have a problem with them until I looked back on my health.

Sort your glasses out asap! Also once they're fixed keep them clean and smudge free

A good jacket!

If your are near one, you could go to a John Lewis or other stylist session. They are free. They will recommend lots of expensive clothes which you don't need to buy but can give you a good idea of how to dress, what suits your shape etc.

Tinted moisturiser with spf

Thank you so much to everyone ❤️

Being noticeably fit and muscular. I'm no Miss Universe but I do believe that it trumps all else ultimately.

You can be in Primark clothes driving a clapped out old banger but if you look healthy and fit, that is what people notice.